Computerized prepress

ABSTRACT

Computerized prepress is disclosed. In one embodiment, a computerized prepress system includes three components: a server, a client and a printer. The server has stored thereon an authoring program to create a document, and a translation program to translate the document to a suitable prepress format. The client downloads the authoring program from the server to create the document, and then uploads the document to the server for translation to the suitable prepress format. The printer receives the document as translated to the suitable prepress format from the server.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to print and print-publishingprepress, and more particularly to such prepress that is computerized.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The publishing process typically requires several steps tosuccessfully complete a printed publication. Such steps include planningand organizing, design and content development, and prepress tasks whereelectronic files are prepared to be reproduced with ink on paper.Broadly speaking, prepress involves the preparation of all theelectronic files that will be utilized to create a publication printedwith paper and ink. For a professional publication, this usuallyinvolves utilizing an authoring program to create the electronic versionof the publication itself, and then using another program (which may bea component of the authoring program), to translate this electronicversion into a format from which paper and ink copies of the publicationcan be printed.

[0003] Portions if not all of the prepress process is difficult fornon-professionals to accomplish, however. While tools such as AdobePageMaker and Quark Express enable professionals to more easily createprofessional-looking documents, most non-professionals find thesecomputer programs overly complex and difficult to use. That is, althoughthe computers sitting on the desks of such non-professionals aresufficiently powerful to handle such tasks, the users themselves may notbe sufficiently knowledgeable to perform them. Furthermore, even forexperienced professionals, the prepress process is fraught withuncertainty; for example, the professional must know the type of paperand ink output that is desired a priori before translating an electronicversion of a document into a format from which paper and ink copies canbe printed. That is, even for experienced professionals, the prepressprocess is not tightly integrated enough to attain fast, easy andcost-effective print publishing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The above-identified shortcomings as well as other shortcomingsand problems are addressed by the present invention, which will beunderstood by reading and studying the following specification. In oneembodiment, a computerized prepress system includes three components: aserver, a client and a printer. The server has stored thereon anauthoring program to create a document, and a translation program totranslate the document to a suitable prepress format. The clientdownloads the authoring program from the server to create the document,and then uploads the document to the server for translation to thesuitable prepress format. The printer receives the document astranslated to the suitable prepress format from the server, such thatthe printer may then print copies of the document.

[0005] More specifically, in one particular embodiment of the invention,the authoring program is written in the programming language Java, andthe client, server and printer are each connected to an intranet theInternet. Thus, a user at the client needs only to run a web browserprogram, such as Netscape Navigator, to access the server and downloadand run the authoring program. Once the user has created a document withthe authoring program, it is saved at the server. The server may then asrequired translate the document into a suitable prepress format—such asPostScript—and send it to the printer (e.g., as a MIME-compliantelectronic mail) for printing.

[0006] The invention thus provides for several advantages. The user atthe client does not need to know anything about the prepress formatrequired by the printer. Since the server stores the authoring programthat is then downloaded to the client for creation of a document, theserver can maintain the authoring program such that it knows both theformat to which the authoring program saves the document, and the formatto which the document must be translated for printing at the printer.Furthermore, the authoring program stored at the server may be as simpleas necessary for novice users to comfortably use, or as powerful asnecessary for experienced users to use. The professional user benefitsfrom the tight integration of the invention, in that the professionaluser need only be concerned with creating the document, and not themanner by which the document will ultimately be printed with paper andink, which may already be preselected within the server.

[0007] In different embodiments of the invention, computerized methods,computerized systems, computers, and computer-readable media of varyingscope are described. Still other and further embodiments, aspects andadvantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to thedrawings and by reading the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a computer in conjunction with whichembodiments of the invention may be implemented;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a diagram of a computerized prepress system inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a diagram of a computerized prepress method inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention; and,

[0011]FIGS. 4a-4 m are diagrams of screens displayed on a display deviceof a computer in conjunction with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form apart hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specificpreferred embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood thatother embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical andelectrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of thepresent invention is defined only by the appended claims.

[0013] Referring first to FIG. 1, a diagram of a computer in conjunctionwith which embodiments of the invention may be implemented is shown.Computer 110 is operatively coupled to display device 112, pointingdevice 114, and keyboard 116. Computer 110 includes a processor(preferably, an Intel Pentium processor), random-access memory (RAM)(preferably, at least thirty-two megabytes), read-only memory (ROM), andone or more storage devices, such as a hard disk drive, a floppy diskdrive (into which a floppy disk can be inserted), an optical disk drive,and a tape cartridge drive. The memory, hard drives, floppy disks, etc.,are types of computer-readable media. The hard drives and floppy disksare more specifically types of nonvolatile store media. Computerprograms running on the computer are executed by the processor from thecomputer-readable media. The invention is not particularly limited toany type of computer 110. Computer 110 preferably is a PC-compatiblecomputer or a MacOS-compatible computer. The construction and operationof such computers are well known within the art.

[0014] Furthermore, computer 110 may be communicatively connected to theInternet via a communication device, any particular manner by which theinvention is not limited to, and which is not shown in FIG. 1. Internetconnectivity is well known within the art. In one embodiment, thecomputer includes a communication device that is a modem andcorresponding communication drivers to connect to the Internet via whatis known in the art as a “dial-up connection.” In another embodiment,the computer includes a communication device that is an Ethernet orsimilar hardware (network) card to connect to a local-area network (LAN)that itself is connected to the Internet via what is know in the art asa “direct connection” (e.g., T1 line, etc.).

[0015] Computer 110 also has at least one operating environment runningthereon, each desirably providing a graphical user interface including auser-controllable pointer. Such operating environments include operatingsystems such as versions of the Microsoft Windows and Apple MacOSoperating systems known in the art. The invention is not limited to anyparticular operating environment, however, and the construction and useof such operating environments are well known within the art. Computer110 also desirably has at least one web browser application programrunning with at least one operating environment, to permit users ofcomputer 110 to access intranet or Internet world-wide-web pages asaddressed by Universal Resource Locator (URL) addresses. Such browserapplication programs include Netscape Navigator and Microsoft InternetExplorer.

[0016] Display device 112 permits the display of information, includingcomputer, video and other information, for viewing by a user of thecomputer. The invention is not limited to any particular display device112. Such display devices include cathode ray tube (CRT) displays(monitors), as well as flat panel displays such as liquid crystaldisplays (LCD's). Pointing device 114 permits the control of the screenpointer provided by the graphical user interface of operating systemssuch as versions of Microsoft Windows. The invention is not limited toany particular pointing device 114. Such pointing devices includemouses, touch pads, trackballs, remote controls and point sticks.Finally, keyboard 116 permits entry of textual information into computer110, as known within the art, and the invention is not limited to anyparticular type of keyboard.

[0017] Referring next to FIG. 2, a diagram of a computerized system inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown. Each of clientcomputer 200, server computer 202, and printer computer 204 is acomputer, such as that shown in and described in conjunction with FIG.1, although the invention is not so limited. Thus, each of clientcomputer 200, server computer 202, and printer computer 204 has aprocessor, a computer-readable medium from which computer programs areexecuted by the processor, and a communications device, such as anetwork card, or a modem. Client computer 200, server computer 202, andprinter computer 204 are communicatively coupled to one another via theInternet 206. Note that in one embodiment, Internet 206 is replaced byan extranet or an intranet, as known within the art, and as may be foundin corporate and other environments.

[0018] Server computer 202 is desirably an extranet, intranet orInternet world-wide-web server, as known in the art, such that it hasassigned thereto a Universal Resource Locator (URL) address to permitclient computer 200, as well as other computers, to access the server.The invention is not particularly limited to a type of server 202.Typical examples include those running software available from Netscape,Microsoft, Apache, NCSA, and others. Server 202 is also not limited torunning on a particular operating system (OS); common operating systemsincluding Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows NT, Apple MacOS andUNIX.

[0019] Server computer 202 has stored thereon authoring program 208.Authoring program 208 is downloaded from server 202 by and to client 200through the Internet 206, although this is more directly represented byarrow 210. Authoring program 208 desirably is run within operatingenvironment 212 running on client 200. Such an operating environment 212includes those provided by extranet, intranet and Internetworld-wide-web browser programs such as Microsoft Internet Explorer andNetscape Navigator. For example, in one embodiment, authoring program208 is coded in the programming language Java, such that program 208 isa Java applet that is downloaded through the Internet by client 200, andruns within an operating environment 212 that is a browser program thatis Java capable. In other embodiments of the invention, authoringprogram 208 may be coded in the programming language Perl, C, C++,ActiveX, or other programming languages; the invention is not solimited.

[0020] Authoring program 208 is used within client computer 200 tocreate document 214. Document 214 is a document created by the user ofcomputer 200, using authoring program 208, for printing and publishing.The invention is not limited to any type of authoring program 208; inone embodiment of the invention, authoring program 208 is that which isshown in and will be described in conjunction with FIGS. 4a-4 m. Theinvention is also not limited to any particular document 214. In oneembodiment of the invention, document 214 is a business card; however,other documents amenable to the invention include letterheads,pamphlets, brochures, envelopes, etc.

[0021] Once document 214 has been created at client 200, it is uploadedto server 202 for saving at the server, through the Internet 206, asmore directly represented by arrow 216. Document 214 is saved at theserver 202 on a non-volatile storage device of the server, such as ahard disk drive. It is saved in an internal file format that maximizesefficiency in the storage of the document. Once the document 214 isready to be sent to a printer for printing and publication (as may beindicated by client 200 to server 202), server 202 runs translationprogram 218 on document 214 (program 218 being stored on server 202) assaved in the internal file format to generate a translated document 220,as represented by arrow 222. The translation program 218 translatesdocument 214 into a file format suitable for prepress, such asPostScript. Other file formats suitable for prepress include HTML, PDF,and PostScript extreme, as known within the art. Translation program 218performs any color separations, or other operations as required by thesuitable prepress file format. The invention is not limited to anyparticular suitable prepress file format.

[0022] Server 202 then transmits the translated document 220 through theInternet 206 to printer 204, as more directly represented by arrow 224.In one embodiment, this is accomplished by server 202 attaching thetranslated document 220 as an attachment file to a MIME-compliantelectronic mail, which may then be sent to the electronic mail addressof printer 204. However, the invention is not limited to any manner bywhich such transmission occurs. Once the printer 204 has received thetranslated document 220, document 220 may then be printed and publishedas needed.

[0023] Referring next to FIG. 3, a flowchart of a computerized methodaccording to an embodiment of the invention is shown. This method isinclusive of the steps or acts required to be taken by a clientcomputer, a server computer, and a printer computer to create a documentat the client computer, for translation by the server computer, and forprinting at the printer computer, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention. These steps or acts are performed in accordance with oneor more computer programs, such as authoring programs, and translationprograms, as have been described in conjunction with FIG. 2. Theembodiment of the invention described in conjunction with FIG. 3 refersto the situation where the client, the server and the printer arecommunicatively coupled to one another through the Internet, where theclient is running a web browser program and the server is a web server;however, the invention is not so limited.

[0024] In step 300, the client computer accesses the web site of the webserver, as referenced by a URL address, through its web browser program,and logs onto the web server. Logging on to the server desirablyincludes submitting user information regarding the user at the client,such as the user's name and password. Once the server has received thisinformation, it authenticates the user, looking up the user informationsubmitted to determine whether such a user exists, and whether thepassword for the user is correct. Authentication also includesassociating the user with a particular directory on the server computer(e.g., on which to store the documents created by the user), a set ofdefaults regarding options available to the user within the authoringprogram (e.g., fonts, colors, images and commands), and an authorizationlevel. The authorization level dictates what the user is permitted to dowithin the program; for example, a “normal” user may be allowed tocreate, save and print his or her own documents, an “administrator” maybe permitted to access anyone's documents within the administrator'swork group, and a “demonstration” user is permitted to create documents,but not permitted to save or print them.

[0025] In step 302, the client downloads the authoring program from theserver. As has been described, in one embodiment the authoring programis coded in Java, such that the program is a Java applet running withinthe browser program of the client. In step 304, the client then uses theauthoring program to create a document, such as a business card, aletterhead, etc. Once the document has been created, in step 306 theclient selects a save command, which uploads the document to the server,where it is saved. Steps 300 through 306 are iterative; the user at theclient may continually save the document to the server, and then relogonat a subsequent time to again revise the document.

[0026] Once the document is in final form according to the user, theuser selects a print command in step 308. This signals the server totranslate the document into a suitable prepress format, such asPostScript, or another format as previously described, and send thedocument to the printer computer in step 310, such as an electronic mailattachment. Thus, the internal format in which the document is saved instep 306 is different than the format to which the document istranslated in step 308 and sent to the printer in step 310. Once theprinter receives the document, the document may then be printed andpublished.

[0027] Referring next to FIGS. 4a-4 m, diagrams of screens displayed ona display device of a computer in conjunction with one embodiment of theinvention are shown. More particularly, the diagrams are screensregarding an authoring program according to one embodiment of theinvention. Referring first to FIG. 4a, within display device 400 isoperating environment window 402 within which the authoring programruns. Specifically, operating environment window 402 is part of a webbrowser program, such as Netscape Navigator. The authoring program is aJava applet that runs within the web browser. The authoring programincludes six primary areas: menu bar 404, tool bar 406, orientation bar408, work area 410, color palette area 412, and properties area 414. Theuser of the computer utilizes tool bar 406, orientation bar 408, menubar 404, color palette area 412, and properties area 414 as tools tocreate a document within work area 410. Work area 410 is sized inaccordance with the type of document to be created. For example, asshown in FIG. 4a, the type of document to be created is a business card.

[0028] The properties area 414 shows commands that may be used inconjunction with the currently selected tool from tool bar 406.

[0029] Clicking “file” on menu bar 404 drops down the file menu, asshown in FIG. 4b. The file menu permits a user to create a new document,such as a business card, letterhead, or envelope, insert an image, openor save a document, revert the current work area to the document as mostrecently saved, or print to a file (i.e., cause the translation programto be run). The images are saved as files on the server in a particularformat, such as encapsulated PostScript, TIFF, GIF, and JPEG. Desirably,the images have a maximum resolution of 1:1, to minimize the size of theencapsulated PostScript file (or file in another format). Opening orsaving a document retrieves or stores a document, respectively, on acomputer-readable medium of the server. Printing the document to a filecauses the translation program to run, such that the file is translatedto a format suitable for prepress, and then sent to the printer.

[0030] Clicking “View” on menu bar 404 drops down the view menu, asshown in FIG. 4c. The view menu permits a user to call up differenttools of the authoring program, which may have become hidden from view(e.g., by previous user choice), or previously unselected by the user.

[0031] Selecting “Toolbar” calls up tool bar 406. Selecting “Move toFront/Move to Back” calls up orientation bar 408. Selecting “ColorPalette” brings up color palette area 412. Selecting “Properties” bringsup properties area 414. Selecting “Rulers” brings into view rulers 416and 414, each on a side of work area 410. Finally, selecting “Grid”causes a grid to be superimposed on work area 410 (not shown in FIG.4c).

[0032] Clicking “Edit” on menu bar 404 drops down the edit menu, asshown in FIG. 4d. The edit menu permits a user to cut, copy, pasteselected elements (i.e., objects) within work area 410, or select allthe elements, such that the user is then able to cut, copy, or paste allthe elements. The cut, copy, and paste commands thus operate as known tothose of ordinary skill within the art.

[0033] Color palette area 412 is described in conjunction with FIG. 4e.The user is able to select both stroke and fill color from a menu ofpredetermined colors. The stroke color refers to the color in which theboundaries of a particular object is drawn within work area 410 (notshown in FIG. 4e), while the fill color refers to the color inside theboundaries of the particular object within work area 410. Colors may beadded within the menu of predetermined colors by defining a new color,accomplished by pressing the define new colors button, which brings upwindow 418. Within the window, the user is able to select new colors,which are desirably the entire palette of colors available from Pantone,as known within the art. In other embodiments, colors are selected frompalettes of colors available from Toyo, Focaltone, or Tru-match, as alsoknown within the art.

[0034] Referring next to FIG. 4f, selecting the arrow tool on tool bar406 allows the user to select an object within work area 410. Selectingthe circle tool on tool bar 406 enables a user to create a circle oroval, such as that shown in work area 410 in FIG. 4f. Referring next toFIG. 4g, selecting the rectangle tool on tool bar 406 permits a user tocreate a rectangle, such as that shown in work area 410 in FIG. 4g.Referring next to FIG. 4h, selecting the line tool on tool bar 406enables a user to create a line, such as that shown in work area 410 inFIG. 4h. In the creation of a circle, rectangle, or line, the authoringprogram performs the creation of the particular object (e.g., thecircle, the rectangle, or the line) itself, and does not consult theserver to determine the manner in which the object is to be created.

[0035] Conversely, selecting the text tool on tool bar 406 causes theauthoring program to first allow the user to input the text to beentered on work area 410, displaying the text in a rough manner. Next,the authoring program sends the text to the server, which translates thetext into an image, desirably an image in GIF format and having amaximum resolution of 4:1, which is then sent back to the client fordisplay on work area 410. (Other image formats include JPEG and TIFF;the invention is not so limited.) This is shown in conjunction with FIG.4i and 4 j. In FIG. 4i, the user has entered the text string “Helloworld” but has not yet pressed return;

[0036] therefore, the text string is shown in a rough manner. Once theuser presses return, the client sends the text string to the server forconversion to an image, which is then sent to the client and displayedon work area 410, as is shown in FIG. 4j. The reason this isaccomplished is that different computers have different font generationengines, while the authoring program is desirably awhat-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) program, showing the user on thedisplay device exactly what will be printed at the printer.

[0037] Referring next to FIG. 4k, selecting the zoom tool on tool bar406 enables a user to zoom in and out on the document within work area410, as is shown in FIG. 4k. Referring to FIG. 41, selecting the colorpicker tool (tool 450) on tool bar 406 enables a user to set a colorwithin color palette area 412 to that of a current object within workarea 410. For example, clicking within object 452 in work area 410 whileusing the color picker tool sets the current fill color to that of thefill color of object 452. This enables users to precisely set a color toan already existing color within the document, which is especiallyadvantageous in situations where there are multiple shades of one colorin a document, which may be difficult to discern.

[0038] Selecting the top icon within orientation bar 408 brings thecurrently selected object within area 410 to the front of other objects.For example, as shown in FIG. 41, selecting the top icon while object452 is selected (as denoted by dots outlining the rectangular boundaryof the object) brings object 452 to the front, over the other objectwithin the work area (e.g., object 454). Conversely, selecting thebottom icon within orientation bar 408 moves the currently selectedobject within area 410 to the back of other objects. For example, asshown in FIG. 4m, selecting the bottom icon while object 452 is selectedmoves object 452 to the back, behind the other object within the workarea (e.g., object 454).

[0039] Computerized prepress has been described. Although specificembodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will beappreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangementwhich is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to coverany adaptations or variations of the present invention. For example, theinvention is fully intended to cover databases as well as dynamicdirectories, such that the term directory may be interpreted toencompass any database amenable to the invention in such an embodimentof the invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that thisinvention be limited only by the following claims and equivalentsthereof.

We claim:
 1. A computerized prepress method for comprising: sendinglog-on information regarding a user from a client computer to a servercomputer; authenticating the user at the server computer; downloading anauthoring program from the server computer to the client computer; usingthe authoring program at the client computer to create a document;sending the document from the client computer to the server computer;saving the document in an internal format at the server computer;translating the document from the internal format to a differentsuitable prepress format; and, sending the document in the differentformat to a printer.
 2. The computerized prepress method of claim 1 ,wherein the client computer and the server computer are communicativelycoupled to one another through the Internet.
 3. The computerizedprepress method of claim 1 , wherein the client computer and the servercomputer are communicatively coupled to one another through an intranet.4. The computerized prepress method of claim 1 , wherein the clientcomputer and the server computer are communicatively coupled to oneanother through an extranet.
 5. The computerized prepress method ofclaim 1 , wherein authenticating the user at the server computercomprises associating the user with at least one of a particulardirectory on the server computer 1, a set of defaults regarding fonts,colors, images and commands available to the user, and an authorizationlevel selected from the group of authorization levels essentiallycomprising normal, administrator, and demonstration.
 6. The computerizedprepress method of claim 1 , wherein the authoring program downloadedfrom the server computer to the client computer is coded in a languageselected from the group essentially comprising Perl, Java, C++, C, andActiveX.
 7. The computerized prepress method of claim 1 , wherein thedocument is selected from the group essentially comprising a businesscard, a letterhead, an envelope, and a brochure.
 8. The computerizedprepress method of claim 1 , wherein the authoring program comprises acolor palette area to select a color from a palette of colors.
 9. Thecomputerized prepress method of claim 8 , wherein the palette of colorscomprises the palette of colors available from one selected from thegroup essentially comprising Pantone, Toyo, Focaltone, and Tru-Match.10. The computerized prepress method of claim 1 , wherein using theauthoring program at the client computer to create a document comprisessending desired text from the client computer to the server computer fortranslation into an image and sending the image from the server computerback to the client computer.
 11. The computerized prepress method ofclaim 10 , wherein the image is in a format selected from the groupessentially comprising GIF, TIFF, and JPEG.
 12. The computerizedprepress method of claim 10 , wherein the image has a maximum resolutionof 4:1.
 13. The computerized prepress method of claim 1 , wherein thedocument includes one or more images, at least one of the images beingin a format selected from the group essentially comprising encapsulatedPostScript, TIFF, GIF, and JPEG.
 14. The computerized prepress method ofclaim 13 , wherein at least one of the images has a maximum resolutionof 1:1.
 15. The computerized prepress method of claim 1 , wherein thedifferent format is selected from a group essentially comprisingPostScript, HTML, PDF, and PostScript Extreme.
 16. The computerizedprepress method of claim 1 , wherein sending the document in thedifferent format to the printer comprises generating an electronic mailfor submission to the printer including an attachment comprising thedocument in the different format.
 17. The computerized prepress methodof claim 16 , wherein the electronic mail is MIME-compliant.
 18. Acomputerized prepress system comprising: a server having stored thereonan authoring program to create a document and a translation program totranslate the document to a suitable prepress format; a clientdownloading the authoring program from the server to create thedocument, which is uploaded to the server for translation to thesuitable prepress format; and, a printer receiving the document astranslated to the suitable prepress format from the server.
 19. Thecomputerized prepress system of claim 18 , wherein the server, theclient and the printer are communicatively coupled to one anotherthrough the Internet.
 20. The computerized prepress system of claim 18 ,wherein the server, the client and the printer are communicativelycoupled to one another through an intranet.
 21. The computerizedprepress system of claim 18 , wherein the server, the client and theprinter are communicatively coupled to one another through an extranet.22. The computerized prepress system of claim 18 , wherein the servercomprises an Internet world-wide-web server.
 23. The computerizedprepress system of claim 18 , wherein the server comprises an intranetworld-wide-web server.
 24. The computerized prepress system of claim 18, wherein the server comprises an extranet world-wide-web server. 25.The computerized prepress system of claim 18 , wherein the authoringprogram runs on the client in an Internet world-wide-web browserprogram.
 26. The computerized prepress system of claim 25 , wherein thebrowser program is selected from the group essentially comprisingNetscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
 27. The computerizedprepress system of claim 18 , wherein the authoring program runs on theclient in an intranet world-wide-web browser program.
 28. Thecomputerized prepress system of claim 18 , wherein the authoring programruns on the client in an extranet world-wide-web browser program. 29.The computerized prepress system of claim 18 , wherein the authoringprogram is coded in a language selected from the group essentiallycomprising Perl, Java, C++, C, and ActiveX.
 30. The computerizedprepress system of claim 18 , wherein the document is selected from thegroup essentially comprising a business card, a letterhead, an envelope,and a brochure.
 31. The computerized prepress system of claim 18 ,wherein the authoring program comprises a color palette area to select acolor from a palette of colors.
 32. The computerized prepress system ofclaim 18 , wherein the suitable prepress format is selected from a groupessentially comprising PostScript, HTML, PDF, and PostScript Extreme.33. The computerized prepress system of claim 18 , wherein the printerreceives the document from the server via an electronic mail to whichthe document is included as an attachment.
 34. A client computercomprising: a processor; a computer-readable medium; a communicationsdevice; an operating environment program executed by the processor fromthe medium; and, an authoring program downloaded from a server throughthe communications device and executed by the processor from the mediumwithin the operating environment program, such that the authoringprogram is used to create a document, which is uploaded to the serverthrough the communications device for translation to a suitable prepressformat and submission to a printer.
 35. The client computer of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium is selected from the groupessentially comprising memory and a nonvolatile storage medium.
 36. Theclient computer of claim 34 , wherein the communications device isselected from the group essentially comprising a modem and a networkcard.
 37. The client computer of claim 34 , wherein the operatingenvironment program comprises an Internet world-wide-web browserprogram.
 38. The client computer of claim 34 , wherein the operatingenvironment program comprises an intranet world-wide-web browserprogram.
 39. The client computer of claim 34 , wherein the operatingenvironment program comprises an extranet world-wide-web browserprogram.
 40. A server computer comprising: a processor; acomputer-readable medium; a communications device; an authoring programstored on the computer-readable medium for downloading through thecommunications device and use by a client to create a document; and, atranslation program executed by the processor from the computer-readablemedium to translate the document to a suitable prepress format and sendthe document as translated to a printer through the communicationsdevice.
 41. The server computer of claim 40 , wherein thecomputer-readable medium is selected from the group essentiallycomprising memory and a nonvolatile storage medium.
 42. The servercomputer of claim 40 , wherein the communications device is selectedfrom the group essentially comprising a modem and a network card.
 43. Acomputer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon fordownloading to a client computer from a server computer and forexecution on the client computer within an operating environmentprogram, the program comprising means for creating a document, which isuploaded to the server through a communications device for translationto a suitable prepress format and submission to a printer.
 44. Acomputer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon forexecution on a server computer, the program comprising: meansdownloadable to a client computer for creating a document; and, meansfor translating the document to a suitable prepress format and forsending the document as translated to a printer through a communicationsdevice of the server computer.